For those lazy to convert that's 137.94 km/h . That's just above most of the world's road speed limit.
The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
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Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
Was wondering the same since, this is about top speed and not about acceleration the weight shouldn't matter much at all, since it has no direct influence on the air resistance. Would be interested in knowing, if a human powered vehicle on steel rails with steel wheels with the same air resistance could be faster than this just due to the lower rolling resistance.
You've got it reversed. Weight shouldn't have as much of an impact on acceleration because as muscle mass & power goes up, weight goes up as well. But more weight inside the shell doesn't increase air resistance, while it does increase power. So a heavier rider with greater sustained power output will, in an environment where wheel friction is trivial, go to a considerably faster top speed on flat ground.
Did anything happen to F = m × a in the last 20 years?
Acceleration a is heavily dependent on the mass m.
Since a = F / m having half the mass would result in double the acceleration with same amount of force F available.
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#93For those lazy to convert that's 137.94 km/h . That's just above most of the world's road speed limit.
That's interesting. Any source? I live in the northeastern part of the United States and it's rare for me to see a speed limit above 65 mph.
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#94Seems like they could get an extra 10% by simply going to a higher track. Mexico City is popular at 2250m of altitude..
Also less oxygen for the cyclist.
The body will naturally produce more red blood cells at altitude so while there is a performance hit, it is mitigated. Also, the crucial power here is anaerobically produced anyway.
If must be, I think the rules don't forbid an oxygen tank.
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#95For those lazy to convert that's 137.94 km/h . That's just above most of the world's road speed limit.
That's interesting. Any source? I live in the northeastern part of the United States and it's rare for me to see a speed limit above 65 mph.
120km/h looks like the typical global speed limit, but I haven't calculated it. It includes China, India, Brazil, several countries in the middle east and Africa.
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#96For those lazy to convert that's 137.94 km/h . That's just above most of the world's road speed limit.
That's interesting. Any source? I live in the northeastern part of the United States and it's rare for me to see a speed limit above 65 mph.
Here in the Midwest we have several highways that are now 75.
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#97This reminds me of the Flintstones :)
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#98> The WHPSC is basically where cyclists put their knees where their mouth is, and attempt to beat the record for pedal-powered speed. This is truly an epic pun, I'm duly impressed.
Could have done better using "feet" :P
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
You've got it reversed. Weight shouldn't have as much of an impact on acceleration because as muscle mass & power goes up, weight goes up as well. But more weight inside the shell doesn't increase air resistance, while it does increase power. So a heavier rider with greater sustained power output will, in an environment where wheel friction is trivial, go to a considerably faster top speed on flat ground.
Did anything happen to F = m × a in the last 20 years? Acceleration a is heavily dependent on the mass m. Since a = F / m having half the mass would result in double the acceleration with same amount of force F available.
Unlike in high school physics, we have to account for drag, which is a lot more important than mass at these speeds. F=ma is true, of course, but you have to think more about what F really is.
Re: The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph
#100I've met with some of the guys from Aerovelo and done a little bit of collaboration with them. They're top notch, and an all-around awesome team of engineers. And Todd is a beast (watch the Atlas human-powered helicopter video).